WEBVTT ERE SCARED AND THOUGHTLIVES DEPENDED ON THEIR EVERYMOVE.>> IT WAS SO WELL ORCHESTRATEDON THEIR END.THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE ABILITYTHEY HAD TO INFLICT TERROR UPONUS.ANDY: THIS COUPLE, WHO DO NOTWANT TO BE IDENTIFIED, SAY THEYWERE THE MOST HORRIFYING HOURSOF THEIR LIVES.ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THEYEACH GOT A PHONE CALL SAYING THEOTHER HAD BEEN IN A CAR CRASHAND HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED.>> ABSOLUTE FEAR AND TERROR.THEY WERE VERY SPECIFIC THATTHERE WAS A VERBAL ALTERCATIONAT THE ACCIDENT SITE.THAT THEY HAD PULLED THISINDIVIDUAL OUT OF THE CAR ATGUNPOINT.THAT THEY WERE HOLDING HIMHOSTAGE IN A BASEMENT.THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HISLIFE OR DEATH.ANDY: HUDSON POLICE SAY THEWOMAN WAS TOLD TO WIRE MONEY TOSAVE HIM, FIRST FROM A WALGREENSAND THEN FROM A GROCERY STORE INMERRIMACK.HER BOYFRIEND MADE TWO TRIPS TOWALMART IN HUDSON TO SEND MONEYTO SAVE HER.THEY WERE CONVINCED IT WAS REALSINCE AT TIMES THEY COULD HEAREACH OTHER'S VOICES AND THEYSEEMED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERETHEY WERE.>> YOU COULDN'T HANG UP THEPHONE.YOU COULDN'T PUT DOWN THE PHONE.IT WAS AS IF SOMEONE WAS IN THEBACK SEAT WITH YOU.THEY KNEW WHICH EXIT I TOOK.WHICH WAY I WENT OFF THE EXIT.>> THEY KEPT ON SAYING OVER ANDOVER AGAIN, "IF YOU CALL THEPOLICE, SHE'S DEAD IF YOU CALL.-- SHE'S DEAD.IF YOU CALL THE POLICE, SHE'SDEAD."THEY'RE SO WELL VERSED ON WHATTHEY DO THAT THEY KNOW EVERYWORD THERE IS TO MANIPULATE YOU.ANDY: THROUGH A SERIES OF EVENTSPOLICE BECAME INVOLVED AND THISMAN AND WOMAN EACH LEARNED THATTHE OTHER WAS SAFE.THEY LOST ABOUT $4,000 AND AREONLY SHARING THEIR STORY TO WARNOTHERS.>> THEY KNEW IT TO A T.WHAT BUTTONS TO PUSH AND WHAT TOSAY TO YOUANDY: THERE IS A LIST OF REDFLAGS TO LOOK FOR AND SOME TIPSON WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOUTHINK YOU ARE BEING TARGETED BYTHIS SCAM.THOSE CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEB

A New Hampshire couple fell victim to a sophisticated abduction scam this week that had them fearing for each other's safety.

The couple, who asked not to be identified, each thought the other had been kidnapped. Believing that the life of their loved one was in danger, they lost thousands of dollars to the scammer.

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"It was so well orchestrated on their end," the man said. "The technology and the ability they had to inflict terror upon us."

The two said they each got a phone call Wednesday afternoon saying that the other one had been in a car crash and had been kidnapped.

"Absolute fear and terror," the woman said. "They were very specific that there was a verbal altercation at the accident site. That they had pulled this individual out of the car at gunpoint. They were holding him hostage in a basement. That I was responsible for his life or death."

Hudson police said the woman was told to wire money to save him, first from a Walgreens and then from a grocery store in Merrimack. Her boyfriend made two trips to Wal-Mart in Hudson to send money to save her.

They were convinced it was real because at times, they could hear each other's voices, and the scammers seemed to know exactly where they were.

"You couldn't hang up the phone," the woman said. "You couldn't put down the phone. It was as if someone was in the back seat with you. They knew which exit I took."

"They kept on saying over and over again, 'If you call the police, she's dead. If you call the police she's dead,'" the man said. "They're so well versed on what they do that they know every word there is to manipulate you."

Through a series of events, police became involved, and the man and woman learned that the other was safe. They lost about $4,000 and said they wanted to share their story to warn others.

"They knew it to a T -- what buttons to push and what to say to you," the man said. "And any of us in this room, if they tell you they have your girlfriend, your neighbor, your friend, whoever, and that they're going to torture them and kill them, you're going to do whatever they say."

Police said there are ways to recognize a scam:

Calls are usually made from an outside area code, but the scammers will often spoof caller ID to appear to come from a local or known number.

The scam might involve multiple phone calls.

Scammers go to great lengths to keep the victim on the phone.

Callers try to prevent the victim from calling or locating the "kidnapped" victim.

Ransom money is only accepted via wire or online transfer.

They offered tips for anyone who gets such a call:

Stay calm. Try to slow the situation down.

Avoid sharing information about yourself or your family during the call.

Request to speak to the victim directly. Ask, "How do I know my loved one is OK?"

Request that the kidnapped victim call back from his or her cellphone.

Listen carefully to the voice of the kidnapped victim if they speak, and ask questions only they would know.

If the callers don't let you speak to the victim, ask them to describe the victim, what they are wearing, jewelry or other small personal details only someone with them could know, or describe the vehicle they drive, if applicable.

While staying on the line with alleged kidnappers, try to call the alleged kidnapping victim from another phone.

Attempt to text or contact the victim via social media.

Attempt to physically locate the victim.

To buy time, repeat the caller's request and tell them you are writing down the demand, or tell the caller you need time to get things moving.